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RAMADAN REMINDER

Ramadan kareem

Alhah ibn 'Ubaydillah reported that a man with his hair in disarray came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, "O Allah's Messenger, inform me of what Allah has made fard (obligatory) on me concerning fasting."
He (peace be upon him) said, "The month of Ramadan." So he asked, "Is there anything other than that on me?"

He (peace be upon him) said, "No, except what you do voluntarily."
He then said, "Tell me what Allah has made fard on me concerning Zakah, "
So he (peace be upon him) informed him of the rites of Islam. He then said, "By He Who ennobled you, I won't voluntarily do anything (extra) nor will I decrease in any way what Allah has made obligatory on me."
The (peace be upon him) then said, "He will succeed if he spoke the truth (or, he will enter Paradise if he was truthful). [2]

The Purpose of Fasting

The ultimate goal of the fast is to develop taqwa (consciousness of God) in people, as Allah said:

"..so that it may produce Taqwa in you."   [Noble Quran 2:183]

Taqwa is among the highest moral qualities that a Muslim can attain. It is produced by placing a shield between one's self and Allah's wrath, as the root meaning of the word implies (i.e. taqwa comes from the verb waqaa, which means "to safeguard"). This is achieved by being conscious of Allah and all His commandments at all times, which means avoiding the Haram (prohibited) as well as the makruh (undesirable) and even some of the halal (permissible) wherever doubt arises.

Conditions for Being Required to Fast

To be Muslim.

To have reached puberty.
However, with young children it was the practice of the Prophet's companions to encourage them to fast in order for them to get used to it at an early age. [3]

To be sane.

'Alee ibn Abi Talib and 'A'ishah both reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "The pen is raised from (the book) of three (individuals): the sleeper until he awakes, the child until he reaches puberty, and the insane until he regains his sanity."
[4]

To be physically able.

To be a resident, not a traveler.

A menstruating woman does not pray or fast. Prayers need not be made up, but fasting must be made up later when her menses are finished. Allah has permitted Muslims who are sick or physically unable to fast or are traveling during Ramadan to break their fasts and make up the missed days of Ramadan. Allah says in the Quran:

"...and whoever is ill or journeying, for him is the like number of other days. Allah desires for you ease and does not desire for you hardship; so you should complete the number and magnify Allah for His having guided you, that perhaps you may give thanks."   [Noble Quran 2:185]

The Benefits of Fasting

Fasting gives the individual a real taste of hunger and thirst which helps him to realize the experience of the poor. This experience should instill a desire to want to help those who are less fortunate by sharing food and wealth with them.

It is required that the individual give up not only food, drink and sexual relations, but also that he restrain from all forms of lying (e.g. backbiting, slander, etc.).
This is confirmed by the Prophet's (peace be upon him) statement, "Allah has no need for the hunger and the thirst of the person who does not restrain from telling lies and acting on them even while observing the fast." [5] He also said, "When one of you is fasting, he should abstain from indecent acts and unnecessary talk, and if someone begins an obscene conversation or tries to pick an argument, he should simply tell him, 'I am fasting'." [6]
So, if one observes the fast according to the above principles, it should improve his moral character, making him more truthful and more careful about what he says and does.